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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anat Histol Embryol / The soft-tissue components of the vomeronasal organ in pigs,...
Anatomia, histologia, embryologia1997; 26(3); 179-186; doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.1997.tb00122.x

The soft-tissue components of the vomeronasal organ in pigs, cows and horses.

Abstract: The soft-tissue components of the vomeronasal organ of the pig, the cow and the horse were studied with the aid of dissection, microdissection, and light microscopy and immunohistochemistry of series of transverse sections. In horses, the rostral end of the incisive duct was blind: thus, unlike in pigs and cows, there was no communication between the vomeronasal organ and the oral cavity. In all three species, the central part of the vomeronasal duct bore the 'typical' respiratory/ receptor epithelium lining on its lateral and medical walls. The rostral part of the duct was characterized by stratified columnar epithelium, while more caudal parts bore simple columnar type. The patterns of distribution of glands, blood vessels and nerves were closely associated with the patterns of distribution of duct linings. The distribution of soft-tissue components in pigs was less clearly defined than in cows and horses. Of the three species, nerves were detected in the rostral half of the vomeronasal parenchyma only in the horse.
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Publication Date: 1997-10-23 PubMed ID: 9334496DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.1997.tb00122.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explored the structure of the vomeronasal organ, specifically the soft-tissue components, in pigs, cows, and horses, revealing differences among these species. They used techniques like dissection, microdissection, light microscopy and immunohistochemistry to understand the structure better.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers carried out a detailed investigation using dissection, microdissection, light microscopy, and immunohistochemistry methods.
  • With these techniques, they observed the internal components of the pig, cow and horse’s vomeronasal organ in a series of transverse sections.

Vomeronasal Organ Structure and Different Species

  • In horses, the researchers found that the rostral end of the incisive duct (the front portion of the duct associated with the vomeronasal organ) was a ‘blind’ end, meaning it had no opening. This is unlike pigs and cows, where this duct communicates with the oral cavity.
  • This is a notable finding, suggesting that the vomeronasal organ in horses might work differently from that in pigs and cows.

Epithelium lining in the Vomeronasal Duct

  • The middle part of the duct in all three species had the typical respiratory/receptor epithelium lining around its lateral (side) and medial (middle) walls.
  • The front part of this duct featured a layered cylindrical epithelium, while the rear parts contained a single layer of cylindrical epithelium.

Soft-Tissue Components

  • The patterns of the distributions of glands, blood vessels, and nerves are directly related to the different types of epithelial lining seen in different parts of the duct.
  • The distribution of soft-tissue components in pigs was found to be less defined compared to cows and horses.

Nerve Detection

  • In the horses, nerves were detected only in the front half of the vomeronasal parenchyma (the functional tissue in an organ, as opposed to the support or connective tissue).
  • This detection was unique to horses among the three species.

Cite This Article

APA
Salazar I, Quinteiro PS, Cifuentes JM. (1997). The soft-tissue components of the vomeronasal organ in pigs, cows and horses. Anat Histol Embryol, 26(3), 179-186. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0264.1997.tb00122.x

Publication

Anatomia, histologia, embryologia
ISSN: 0340-2096
NlmUniqueID: 7704218
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 26
Issue: 3
Pages: 179-186

Researcher Affiliations

Salazar, I
  • Department of Anatomy and Embriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lugo, Spain.
Quinteiro, P S
    Cifuentes, J M

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Cattle / anatomy & histology
      • Connective Tissue / anatomy & histology
      • Epithelium / anatomy & histology
      • Female
      • Horses / anatomy & histology
      • Immunohistochemistry
      • Male
      • Swine / anatomy & histology
      • Vomeronasal Organ / anatomy & histology
      • Vomeronasal Organ / blood supply
      • Vomeronasal Organ / innervation

      Citations

      This article has been cited 13 times.
      1. Mechin V, Asproni P, Bienboire-Frosini C, Cozzi A, Chabaud C, Arroub S, Mainau E, Nagnan-Le Meillour P, Pageat P. Inflammation interferes with chemoreception in pigs by altering the neuronal layout of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:936838.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.936838pubmed: 36172609google scholar: lookup
      2. Buzek A, Serwańska-Leja K, Zaworska-Zakrzewska A, Kasprowicz-Potocka M. The Shape of the Nasal Cavity and Adaptations to Sniffing in the Dog (Canis familiaris) Compared to Other Domesticated Mammals: A Review Article. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 19;12(4).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12040517pubmed: 35203225google scholar: lookup
      3. Kondoh D, Tanaka Y, Kawai YK, Mineshige T, Watanabe K, Kobayashi Y. Morphological and Histological Features of the Vomeronasal Organ in African Pygmy Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). Animals (Basel) 2021 May 19;11(5).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11051462pubmed: 34069678google scholar: lookup
      4. Mechin V, Pageat P, Teruel E, Asproni P. Histological and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Vomeronasal Organ Aging in Mice. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 22;11(5).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11051211pubmed: 33922332google scholar: lookup
      5. Torres MV, Ortiz-Leal I, Villamayor PR, Ferreiro A, Rois JL, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. The vomeronasal system of the newborn capybara: a morphological and immunohistochemical study. Sci Rep 2020 Aug 6;10(1):13304.
        doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-69994-wpubmed: 32764621google scholar: lookup
      6. Ortiz-Leal I, Torres MV, Villamayor PR, López-Beceiro A, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. The vomeronasal organ of wild canids: the fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a model. J Anat 2020 Nov;237(5):890-906.
        doi: 10.1111/joa.13254pubmed: 32584430google scholar: lookup
      7. Tomiyasu J, Kondoh D, Sakamoto H, Matsumoto N, Sasaki M, Kitamura N, Haneda S, Matsui M. Morphological and histological features of the vomeronasal organ in the brown bear. J Anat 2017 Nov;231(5):749-757.
        doi: 10.1111/joa.12673pubmed: 28786107google scholar: lookup
      8. Gizurarson S. Anatomical and histological factors affecting intranasal drug and vaccine delivery. Curr Drug Deliv 2012 Nov;9(6):566-82.
        doi: 10.2174/156720112803529828pubmed: 22788696google scholar: lookup
      9. Salazar I, Sánchez-Quinteiro P, Alemañ N, Prieto D. Anatomical, immnunohistochemical and physiological characteristics of the vomeronasal vessels in cows and their possible role in vomeronasal reception. J Anat 2008 May;212(5):686-96.
        doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.00889.xpubmed: 18430091google scholar: lookup
      10. Salazar I, Lombardero M, Cifuentes JM, Sánchez Quinteiro P, Alemañ N. Morphogenesis and growth of the soft tissue and cartilage of the vomeronasal organ in pigs. J Anat 2003 Jun;202(6):503-14.
        doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2003.00183.xpubmed: 12846472google scholar: lookup
      11. Shin T, Kim J, Ortiz-Leal I, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. Porcine vomeronasal system: anatomy, development, receptor repertoire, and inflammatory change. J Vet Sci 2026 Jan;27(1):e13.
        doi: 10.4142/jvs.25244pubmed: 41663120google scholar: lookup
      12. Kondoh D, Arimura T, Arakaki M, Otake Y, Kanagawa T, Tomiyasu J. Histochemical Properties of the Vomeronasal System in Hokkaido Sika Deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis). Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 2;15(23).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15233475pubmed: 41375532google scholar: lookup
      13. Kondoh D, Tonomori W, Iwasaki R, Tomiyasu J, Kaneoya Y, Kawai YK, Ikuta S, Kobayashi H, Kobayashi M. The vomeronasal organ and incisive duct of harbor seals are modified to secrete acidic mucus into the nasal cavity. Sci Rep 2024 May 23;14(1):11779.
        doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62711-xpubmed: 38783070google scholar: lookup
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